Register device



Sept. 19, 1950 v F. E. WOOD 2,522,734

REGISTER DEVICE Eiled Aug. 20, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheetl VIIIIIIIIIIIIIA INVENTOR. FREDRIC E. WOOD ATTORNEY F. E. WOOD REGISTER DEVICE Sept. 19, 1950 3 Shuts-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1943 FIG.||

FIG.8 FIG.9 FIGJO INVENTOR. FREDRIC E. WOOD %ZW ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1950 F. E. WOOD 2,522,734

REGISTER DEVICE Filed Aug. 20, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \mm x4 "8 I LL43 FIG.I6 -&\\\\\\\\\\ INVENTOR.

FREDRIC E. WOOD A TTTT nev Patented Sept. 19, 1950 REGISTER. DEVICE Fredric E. Wood, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Auto matic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application August 20, 1943, SeriaI No. 499,337

3'- Claims.

to the large ones currently in use.

In keeping with this object, one featureof the invention is the provision of an electromagnetic stepping mechanismhavinga magnetizing coil of greatly reduced size and, in order to realize the maximum usefulness of "the magnetomotive force generated by the coil, an improved magnetic circuit.

Another feature is the. provision of a novel frame for supporting within a small compass an electromagnet and a mechanism operated by the magnet step-by-step.

An additional feature is the provision of a diminutive rectangular casing, so proportioned that its length is approximately equal to the sum of its width "and its depth, and a novel frame cooperating with said casing to support therein anelectromagnet and a mechanism operated by the magnet step-by-step.

A further feature is theprovision in astepby-step mechanism ofa ratchet wheel, a reciprocatory bifurcated pawl for operating said wheel, and a new arrangement insuring that the wheel is always under positive external control at all stages of the pawls operation.

Another feature is the provision of an electromagnetic counting device wherein a plurality of number wheels are supported coaxially in a novel relationship to their operating magnet.

- This relationship is such that the entire counting device may be enclosed in a case whose outside dimensions do not exceed 1" x 1" x 1.75".

' Another feature resides in the very efilci'ent mag-' netic circuit provided by the frame which supports said number wheels and'm'agnet. Still another feature lies in the manner in which the magnetic armature for the device is counterbal- "anced.

Where a machine performs a certain operation repeatedly, it is well known to employ an adding counter to register each operation automatically, thereby to give an instantaneous indication r tion.

2. ofthetotalnumber of operations performed. If the machine iscapable of erforming onlya limited number of operations satisfactorily (due, for example, to its initial supply of working material being reduced progressively until it finally is exhausted in the process) it is usually more important toknow at all times how many operations the machine can yet perform than to know how many of its quota of operations already have been performed. To accomplish this, it. is desirable to employ a subtracting counter, i. e., one whose registration diminishes with each successive operation of the machine- If itsregistration is to reach zero simultaneously with the machine performing the last operation of its quota, it will be obvious that the counters registration at. the ,beginning ofthe machines run must be equal to the full number of operations the machine then is prepared .to perform. The number of operationsfor which a machine may be conditioned is. a variable factor; different machines willhave different quotas, and even the same machine may have a different quota at different times. Therefore it is another object of themvention to'provide. a counting device whose number wheels may readily be preset to any desired numbenin order to accommodate such variations. This facility is of value not only in connection with subtracting counters but also in connection with. adding counters, since it. frequentlyjis desired to set the number wheels of one of the latter devices either to zero or some other 'predeterminednumber at the beginningof a counting operation. f

In keeping with this f'urther object, a. feature of the. invention is the provision of a register whose indicia bearing wheels are individually resettable from any reading to any other reading. Another feature is the provision of a register whose indicia bearing, wheels are manually resettable by rotation in either direction. Still another feature lies in the provision of an arrangement for orienting the wheels at the end of resetting, whereby their final position bears alpredeterminedrel'ationship to their starting posi- .Another feature f the invention is the provision of an electromagnetically operated registerhaving a plurality .of coaxial indicating wheels each of which always. is in condition to yield before. an external rotativeforce. applied directly to its periphery. An additional feature is the provision, in combination with, such .a register, of a. casing having a cover removable to expose the peripheries of the/indicating wheels. Another required relationship to each other.

feature resides in the arrangement for removing said cover.

A further feature is the provision of a counting device having preassembled number wheels, certain of said wheels including a built-in slip clutch via which that wheel is driven by the carry over mechanism. Another feature is presented by the novel construction of this clutch.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of one suitable form of counter, showing it with the front cover in place and the balance of the casing removed,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 2a shows the pawl and the star wheel of Fig. 2 in the positions occupied by them when the armature is attracted by the electromagnet, a portion of the counter frame also being shown dotted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, modified to show the entire casing in place,

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the counter taken with the front cover in place and the balance of the casing removed,

Fig. 5 is a front view of the counter,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the counter frame, together with the front cover,

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the counter when wholly enclosed within its casing, and

Y shown in Fig. 2.

pawl member 32 formed of non-magnetic material is pivotally mounted upon pin 30, its rotation in both directions being limited by the star wheel 33 mounted upon shaft 29. Riveted to the pawl member is an armature 34, formed of magnetic material. A coiled spring 35 having one end hooked into a small hole in an upturned lug 36 on the armature and the other end hooked around pin 21 tends to rotate the pawl-and-armature assembly in a counterclockwise direction, thereby normally maintaining it in the position An electromagnet 31 screwed to base 2| (see Fig. 3) attracts the armature when energized, thus moving the pawl-and-armature assembly in a clockwise direction against the force of spring 35 until it assumes the position Figs. 8 to 17, inclusive, are enlarged views of the resettable counter wheel assembly, Figs. 8 and 11 showing the opposite sides thereof, Fig. 9 being an edge view, Fig. 10 being a sectional view taken along the linel lJl 0 of Fig. 8, Figs. 12 and 13 being front and side detail views, respectively,

of the spring for the assembly, Fig. 14 being a greatly nlarged plan view of a projection on the indexing washer for the assembly, and Figs. 15, 16, and 17 being sectional views of the projection and its associated indentation, taken.

along the lines I5-l5, Iii-l8 and l'l-I'I, respectively, of Fig. 14.

Considering the drawings more in detail, it will be observed that all parts of the counter are compactly assembled upon a rigid one-piece frame 20. Made of magnetic material, this frame is preformed in the shape shown in Fi 6 before the various other parts are mounted thereon. It comprises a horizontal base 2| having at its forward end a vertical wall 22, which supports two further vertical walls 23 and 24 at right angles to itself; the latter walls extend forwardly from opposite sides of wall 22 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other. In the same plane as wall 24 is another vertical wall 25 extending upwardly from one side of the base 2l, while in a plane parallel to wall 22 are three lugs 26, two of which are carried by the base and'one by wall 25.

Preferably the entire frame is stamped in. a

single piece from a flat sheet of material, the

base, walls and lugs then being bent into their Alternative methods of manufacture will .be apparent to those versed in the art, and the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives.

Five non-magnetic pins 21, 28, 29, 30 and 31 are driven tightly into suitable holes in the oppositely disposed side walls 23 and 24, after which,

if desired, they may be further secured to the walls by staking, and/or brazing. A bifurcated indicated in Fig. 2a.

The armature is provided with a counterbalancing portion 49, with the result that the mass of the pawl-and-armature assembly is distributed equally on either sideof a vertical plane passing through the axis of pin 30. This insures that the counter will not be falsely operated( nor falsely prevented from operating) by any change in the external forces which act upon the armature parallel to this plane; such changes may be anticipated, for example, where the counter is mounted in an airplane or other moving object which is subject to rapid acceleration, deceleration or change of course.

Satisfactory operation of the counter by an electromagnet so small as the one employed here to the armatures axis of rotation that the attractive force produced therein by the flux tends to rotate the armature in a clockwise direction. Gap 39, being disposed farther from pivot 30 than is gap 38, has a mechanical advantage which adapts it to producing the greater torque. Accordingly gap 33 has been made extremely small to reduce its reluctance to a minimum and hence increase the concentration of flux in gap, 39 where it is capable of doin the most useful work. The efficiency of this arrangement will be self-evident to those versed in the art.

It willbe observed that care has been taken to make other magnetic circuits embodied in the structure comparatively inefficient, thereby to prevent the circulation of stray flux over other paths than the one indicated. For example, wall 25 of the frame and the free end of armature 34 have been so shaped that they are always separated by a sufficient distance to insure that no appreciable flux will cross thatgap rather than gap 38; the lateral edges of the armatures counter-balancing portion 49 are spaced apart from walls 23 and 24 by a wide gap for the same reason.

To appreciate the importance of this, consider the effect of making the armature portion 43 wider. With only a narrow air gap separatin the lateral edges of the armature from walls 23 and 2|, av portion of the flux now passing up the wall 22 and entering the armature via gap 38 would be diverted to the side walls and would enter the armature via its lateral edges. Manifestly, flux thus entering the armature parallel to its axis of rotation would itself produce no tendency to rotate the armature about the axis. At the same time it would have a parasitic effect, reducing the flux in gap 38 and hence reducin the work which that gap otherwise would be capable of doing. Still worse, the parasitic flux would be directly and independently detrimental, for it would pro? duce in the narrow air gap between each lat: eral edge of the armature and the adjacent side wall of the frame a braking force which would actually resist rotation of armature. This latter effect ispresent to a high degree in practically allknown counters, since these almost universally follow the practice of completing the only magnetic circuit for the armature via the armatures lateral edge. In a large measure it accounts for the inefficient utilization ofmagnetic flux which previously has required the use of very large magnetizing coils. W e e, v s

The counting mechanism employed in the present register is a cyclometer of the Veeder" type, improved as explained hereinafter. It comprises a hundreds wheel, a tens number wheel and a units number wheel, all rotatably mounted upon pin 29; and a pair of carry-over pinions 40 and 4| rotatably mounted upon pin 3|.

The hundreds and tens number wheels are identical preassembled units, their construction being shown in detail in Figs. 8 to 13, in? clusive. Each includes a hub 42 whose bore is just large enough to permit it to rotate freely when mounted upon pin 29. A number drum. 43, preferably molded of Bakelite or other phenol resinous material, is freely rotatable upon the hub; this drum includes two carry-over teeth 44 formed in one side thereof. Disposed within a shallow recess in the same side of the drum is a washer 45 which is immovably affixed to hub 42 by flaring the end ofthe hub outwardly over the washer after it has been put in place on said hub. In like manner, a gear 46 is immovably afiixed to the opposite end of hub 42. It will be observed that washer 45 and gear 46 are spaced far enough apart to permit a slight axial movement of drum 43 upon the hub, but a compressed circular spring 41 disposed between the gear and the drum (and partly occupying a groove 48 in the latter) urges the drum toward washer45 so that it normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 10.

T Drum 43 has ten equally spaced depressions 50 located in a circle underneath washer 45. Coinciding with three of these depressions are three projections 5| embossed in the washer, which tend to prevent the drum from rotating upon hub 42. It follows that these projections normally maintain the drum in fixed relationship to gear 46, so that rotation of the gear by one of the carry-over pinions will cause the drum alsoto rotate without any lost motion. Assuming that gear 46 is maintained stationary, however, drum 43 now can be madeto rotate in either direction with respect to the gear by applying a sufficient rotative force to the drum to cause the projections 5| to slip from one set of depressions to the next. Adjacent depressions are separated from. one another, of course, by a hump over which the three projections must ride during such rotation, and accordingly the force employed must be enough to cause the projections to force the drum axially against the pressure of spring 41 as they pass from one set of depressions to the next.

Since there are ten depressions, it will be clear that a movement of the drum through one-tenth of a revolution from its ori gin al position will cause each of the projections to register with the next depression of the series. The drum may be turned through an angle equal to any multiple of one-tenth revolution, or, to put it difierently, may occupy any one of tenpredetermined positions relative to gear 46, the projections 5| and. spring 4'! always being effective to maintain the drum in someone of these positions until an ex ternal rotative force is applied to the drum to move it therefrom. e v T ,7 I

The individual depressions and projections may, of course, be made in various shapes. Preferably, however, eachdepression will be generally confcal in shape and each projection will be a modiiied spherical segment as illustrated in greatly enlarged form in Figures 14 to 17, inclusive. Referring more particularly to these figures, it will be noted that the projection 5| is somewhat elongated in the direction ofits movement be tween adjacent depressions. The basic spherical contour has been retained only at its two ends, the bottom of the sphere and its two sides having been omitted in order to reduce the projections height and width. Accordingly, when the projection is centered directly over a depression 50, engagement between the two will take place only along the dotted lines a-b and cd (Fig. 14). T Due to permissibl manufacturing variations in the size of the different parts of the numberwheel, it sometimes may happen that a projec tion is not perfectly centered over the depres-' sion in which itv rests. If the misalignment should be such that the projection is slightly displaced along a line radial to the center of washer 45, contact between the projection and. its associated depression nevertheless will takeplace at a point within the end zones of the projection, hence upon a portion of the depressions interior surface adapted to resist movement of the projection out of that depression and into the next. Such would not be the case had the basic spherical shape of the projection been re tained around its entire circumference (i. e., if

- the projection had been so formed that all diametrical cross sections of it were identical to that shown in Fig. 15). In the latter instance, if the projection were displaced along a line radial tothe center of washer 45 its spherical side portion would engage the associated depression only at a point such as e or f (Fig. 16), the interior surface of the depression at that point being parallel to the direction of the projections movement between adjacent depressions and therefore offering little resistance to such movement. Thus it will be seen that although size variations within the limit of ordinary manufacturing tole'r ances might adversely affect the operation of a spherical projection, the modified form of projection insures that it will function satisfactorily even in, the face of such variations.

The units number wheel is constructed along fundamentally the same lines as the tens and hundreds number wheels, described above, except that instead of a gear 46 it has a serrated wheel .52 which, together with a star wheel 33, is rigidly affixed to a hub similar to 42. Also, its number drum is immovable with respect to the hub, this result being achieved by spacing the serrated wheel and the washer correspondingto 45 suiiiciently close together that the number drum is unable to slide axially between them. In this condition, the drum is locked to the projectionson said washer and hence cannot rotate with respect to the hub.

Cooperating with the serrated wheel 52 is an L-shaped spring 53 mounted upon wall 22 by means of a screw. Its purpose will be made clear presently. For convenience in adjusting this spring, there has been provided-in wall 23 a slot 54 through which the portion of the spring engaging the serrated wheel may be observed. Likewise a pair of peep holes 55 in wall 23 provide a view of the star wheel at the two points where it is engaged by the pawl member 32. The location of these holes and the slot has been shown dotted in Fig. 2a.

A closely fittingrectangular case 56 encloses the counter. Preferably molded of Bakelite or similar material, this is open at one end permitting it to be slipped over the counter frame from the rear and pushed forward until it occupies the position shown in Fig. 3. It then is secured to the frame by means of three screws 51 whose heads are countersunk into the casing. The electromagnet terminals 58 and lugs 25 extend through openings in the rear of the case, the lugs being flush with the exterior surface thereof illustrated in Fig. 3. Tapped holes in these lugs permit the counter to be mounted upon any desired surface.

Over the front of the case fits a removable cover 60, having a window Gl through which the number wheels may be viewed. A very thin plate 62 is fastened to the inside of the cover by rivets or other suitable means, this plate having four integral spring clips 63 which hook over pins 21 and 28 to maintain the cover in place. A sheet of transparent material such as cellulose acetate is clamped securely between the plate and the 3 cover to prevent dust from entering the case through window 6!. Above the window is a large rivet 64. This has a recess behind the lower portion of its head, making it possible to remove the cover by inserting ones thumbnail under the rivet head and pulling outwardly until the spring clips 63 disengage from pins 2'! and 28.

Having described the physical construction of the counter in some detail, there follows a brief explanation of its operation. At the start, all parts are as shown in Fig. 2. The upper pawl engages star wheel 33 in the valley between two teeth, this particular valley having been marked with a small black dot both in Fig. 2 and in Fig. 2a. Upon energization of the electromagnet, the lower pawl enters the valley d ametrically orposite the dot, with the result that star wheel 33 is rotated a small amount in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2a. When the electromagnet deenergizes, spring 35 restores the armature to normal causing the upper pawl to enter the valley adjacent the one indicated by the dot. The star wheel (and hence the units number drum) now has been moved one-tenth revolution in a counterclockwise direction.

This operation can be repeated to advance the number drum further, it being clear that each one-tenth revolution of said drum occurs in two stages; part upon energization of the electromagnet and the rest upon its deenergization. At each stage, spring 53 assists the bifurcated pawl member. For example, referring to Fig. 2, assume that the electromagnet has just been energized. It will be seen that the lower pawl must travel a short distance before it begins to engage star wheel 33, and during this initial movement the upper pawl begins to move out of the valley which it has occupied. For a brief interval, then, neither pawl is engaging a tooth on the star wheel, so that, except for spring 53, the units Cal number wheel would be free to rotate in either direction. Spring 53, however, exerts pressure upon the sloping surface of one tooth of the serrated Wheel 52 during this brief interval, thereby rotating the number wheel in a counterclockwise direction until the lower pawl takes control of the star wheel and continues the rotation thus started. The continued rotation carries spring 53 over the crest of the next tooth of the serrated wheel, so that at the end of the armatures stroke, the spring rests upon the sloping surface of the next tooth, as shown in Fig. 2a.

When now the electromagnet deenergizes, spring 53 functions in the same way as upon energization. That is to say, in the brief interval during which the lower pawl moves out of the valley occupied by it in Fig. 2a and before the upper pawl begins to engage the star wheel, spring 53 acts upon the serrated wheel to cause the units number wheel to commence its counterclockwise rotation. Thus, by positively urging the number wheel to move forward when otherwise it would be free to rotate in either direction, the spring insures that both pawls always enter the correct valley on star wheel 33. The possibility of an error arising, say through vibration of the counter from an external source at a time when the armature is partially operated, hence is overcome. In this way, the counters operation is made positive, and accurate counting is assured.

As is well known, the carry-over teeth 44 on the units drum engage the carry-over pinion 40 once in each revolution, rotating it sufliciently as they pass by to cause it to turn the tens drum through one-tenth revolution. Similarly, the carry-over teeth on the tens drum engage carry-over pinion 4| once in each revolution, causing it to turn the hundreds drum through onetenth revolution. Rotation of all three drums is in the same direction, i. e., counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. Since in the present instance it is desired that the counter operate on a subtracting basis, the numbers on each drum are arranged in such sequence that they appear before window 6| in descending order as the drum rotates; further, the carry-over teeth 44 on each drum are so positioned relative to the numbers on that drum that they drive the next higher order drum only during the time that the first mentioned drum is moving its 0 away from the window and bringing its 9" into View.

It will be clear that the drums would be numbered in the reverse sequence if the counter were desired to operate on an adding basis, and that the carry-over teeth on each drum would be so positioned that during rotation of the drum from its 9 position to its 0 position they would drive the next higher order drum.

Except when it is engaged by the carry-over teeth 44 as explained above, pinion 40 is prevented from rotating by a shoulder on the units" drum, and this in turn keeps the gear 46 associated with the tens drum from turning, due to the fact that said gear is meshed with the pinion. In like manner, pinion 4| and the gear 46 associated with the hundreds drum are maintained stationary except when the carry-over teeth 44 on the tens drum engage and rotate pinion 4|. Even when the gears 46 are thus maintained stationary, however, the three number wheels may be individually reset by hand to any desired reading. To accomplish this the cover 60 first must be removed, as hereinbefore described; a rotative force may then be applied directly to any drum, for example by pressinl the finger or thumb of ones hand against the exposed forward surface of the drum and pushing either up or down depending upon the direction it is desired to rotate said drum.

When this is done to the units drum, the whole assembly (including serrated wheel 52 and star wheel 33) rotates, causing the bifurcated pawl member 32 to reciprocate much lilre a clock escapement. On the other hand, when it is done either to the tens drum or the hundreds drum, the drum alone rotates upon its own hub in the manner previously explained. In the latter case, due to the projections associated with it, the drum slips easily into any one of the ten positions in which a number will appear before window 6|, but tends slightly to resist rotation between adjacent ones of said positions; thus, as it is manually rotated, the drum has a feel which aids the operator in positioning it so that the projections 5| are properly nested in impressions in the drum at the end of its rotation. This insures that the drum is never left in such a position that portions of two successive numbers appear at the same time before window 6|.

Attention is directed to the fact that since the carry-over teeth 44 are an integral part of each drum, manual rotation of the latter does not disturb the relationship between these teeth and the numbers on the same drum. Therefore, regardless of the position to which any drum may have been reset, when it subsequently moves its 0 away from window 6| and brings its 9 into view in the course of the counters operation, the carry-over teeth on that drum will necessarily be in the correct position to engage the carry-over pinion and hence operate the next higher order drum.

Having fully described my invention, what I consider new and desire to protect by Letters Patent will be set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a step-by-step mechanism, a bifurcated pawl, means for reciprocating said pawl between two extreme positions, a revoluble ratchet wheel engaged and rotated by said pawl during movement of the latter from either extreme position to the other, said pawl being effective to hold said wheel against rotation when it is in either extreme position, a revoluble serrated wheel concentric with said ratchet wheel and rigidly afiixed thereto, a, spring engaging the serrations of said last wheel in such a way as to apply a, rotative force thereto when said pawl is in either extreme position, said force effective to initiate rotation of said wheels during the initial movement of said pawl from each extreme position to the other.

2. In a step-by-step mechanism, a bifurcated pawl, means for reciprocating said pawl between two extreme positions, a ratchet wheel engaged and rotated by said pawl during movement of the latter from either extreme position to the other,

said pawl being effective to hold said wheel against rotation when it is in either extreme position, and means always urging said wheel in a particular direction when said pawl is in either extreme position, said last means effective to initiate rotation of said wheel as soon as said pawl is moved away from such extreme position.

3. In a counting device; a frame comprising a horizontal base, a partitioning wall integral with said base and extending vertically upward from the forward extremity of said base, a pair of vertical side walls in parallel spaced apart relationship to each other extending forward from and integral with the lateral vertical extremities of said partitioning wall, said side walls being positioned forward also with relation to the forward extremity of said base; all of said walls and base being formed from a single piece of material; an electromagnet mounted on said base so that the upper end of its core is disposed substantially in the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of said partitioning wall; a pivot pin parallel to said partitioning wall and supported at its ends by said side walls; an armature rotatably mounted upon said pin so that one end of said armature extends rearward over the upper edge of said partitioning wall to a point adjacent the upper end of said core while the other end extends forward between said side walls; and a register rotatably mounted between and supported by said side walls and operated by said armature in accordance with energization and the de-energization of said electromagnet.

FREDRIC E. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 740,889 Merritt Oct. 6, 1903 768,667 Kray Aug. 30, 1904 771,996 McBerty et al Oct. 11, 1904 858,377 Fluegelman July 2, 1907 1,472,465 Forsberg et al. Oct. 30, 1923 1,615,399 Orth Jan. 25, 1927 1,671,553 Sheldrick May 29, 1928 1,939,822 Martin Dec. 19, 1933 1,948,946 Smith et al. Feb. 27, 1934 1,979,028 Ewart Oct. 30, 1934 2,040,025 Slye May 5, 1936 2,044,049 Bradley June 16, 1936 2,097,151 Gleason Oct. 26, 1937 2,228,069 Baum Jan. 7, 1941 2,266,015 Fink Dec. 16, 1941 2,368,201 Clare Jan. 30, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 648,393 France June 22, 1927 

